PUPILS at St Laurence School in Bradford on Avon have been busy supporting Operation Christmas Child in a donation that saw them putting together shoe boxes to send across the world.

They packed some 156 boxes in total and raised over £530 in donations and through a cake sale held at the school.

The initiative is run by Samaritan's Purse, an Evangelical international relief and development organisation that works among communities in need across the world.

Sixth Form members of the School Council co-ordinated the school’s response to the charity’s Shoe Box Appeal.

Pupils were invited to bring in something to place in their shoe box, whether it was a pack of pens, cuddly toy or even a note pad.

If they were unable to source a suitable gift, the pupils were invited to raise a shipping donation of up to £5 as an alternative to contributing a gift.

Mrs Trudy Chatfield, Assistant Director of Sixth Form, said: “Our students have responded magnificently to this appeal and demonstrated a real sense of teamwork and determination to raise money for this charitable cause. I am proud of them and their achievement in raising in excess of £500 for this Appeal.”

A Samaritan's Purse spokesperson said: "We invited schools and organisations to be a part of changing children’s lives all over the world in Jesus’ name through the power of a simple gift with Operation Christmas Child. "A small shoebox can have a big impact. What goes into the box is fun, but what comes out of it is eternal."

If you wish to help the charity, you have until Christmas Eve to pack a shoebox online. Please go to https://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/